The Apostasy

Before the return of the Lord for His saints...three things must happen first.
1. The apostasy (2Thess 2:1-3)
2. The revealing of the antichrist. (2Thess 2:1-3)
3. The abomination of desolation. (Matthew 24)

In response to the scripture verse referenced in the above post...
by apologist John McKee.

It is important to note a false teacing that is prevalent among pre-tribulationists concerning the prophesied apostasy of the faith. Many interpret Paul's admonition of "for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first" as being the rapture. The Christian textbook "Book of Revelation, Church History and Things to Come" states concerning this verse, that "the Greek word translated 'falling away' means 'departure, or going out' similar to our word 'exit' as in referring to the rapture." What this textbook fails to do is actually tell us what this mysterious Greek word is, which is apostasia. It clearly means apostasy and is the root word for the same English word. What apostasty means is a rejection of, or standing away from the faith. Apostasia is only used one other time in the bible in Acts 21:21 where Paul is falsely accused of teaching the Jewish Believers to forsake Torah. In the NASB, apostasia is translated as 'forsake'. The NIV renders the word 'apostasia' as 'rebellion'.
It cannot mean 'departure' via the pre-trib rapture. It means a denial or a departure away from the faith. Tweet